Luke 24:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

NIV: But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

NASB: But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe the women.

CSB: But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.

NLT: But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.

KJV: And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

NKJV: And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

The first humans to share that Jesus has risen from the dead are not believed.

The women saw Him on their way to tell the male disciples about an angel. The angel told them Jesus had risen. Jesus interrupts their path. They "took hold of his feet and worshiped him." Then He tells them to tell the men to meet Him in Galilee (Matthew 28:1–10).

A little later, Mary Magdalene meets Him. She thinks He's the gardener, at first, and asks where He's placed Jesus' body. Jesus says her name and she really looks. "Rabboni!" she says. Then she grasps Him so tightly that He needs to tell her to loosen up. Jesus tells her to tell the men He is risen and will ascend to the Father. Mary goes to the disciples and says, "I have seen the Lord" (John 20:11–18).

But the men don't believe. They think the women are telling them a fever dream. It's not because the first witnesses are women, it's because of their lack of faith in Jesus. Even after the confirmation of Jesus' appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus and to Peter (Luke 24:13–34), when Jesus comes into the room where the disciples are hiding, they are frightened, thinking He's a ghost. Jesus tells them "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see" (Luke 24:37–39).

This doubt will continue. Thomas isn't present when Jesus arrives; he doesn't believe until he sees Him eight days later (John 20:24–28). When Peter and John tell the Sanhedrin that Jesus has risen, they don't believe, either (Acts 4:1–22). But many do believe—thousands (Acts 2:41; 5:14). Even some of the priests (Acts 6:7).

The women, the men, and the church understand that our responsibility is to share the gospel—Jesus is risen! We can't make anyone believe. But, as Paul says, "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" (Romans 10:14).

Luke 24:1–12 reports that the women who had prepared spices find Jesus' tomb empty. Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Clopas, Salome, Joanna, and possibly others saw where Jesus was buried and gathered spices before the Sabbath began. Early Sunday morning, they return but the stone is rolled away. Two angels remind them Jesus had promised to rise from the dead. They tell Peter who also finds the tomb empty. Mark 16:1–8 gives a similar account. Matthew 28:1–10 and John 20:1–18 say that the women meet Jesus and John is with Peter.

After Jesus is executed and buried (Luke 23:52–53), the women who had followed Him from Galilee come to improve His burial condition. They find an open, empty tomb and angels. The disciples are informed. Two of them spend time speaking with a stranger while walking, only to realize it was Jesus Himself. Jesus appears to His followers, eating fish and explaining how His role as Messiah was predicted in Scripture. Jesus then ascends to heaven while His disciples worship.

Luke 24 describes how Jesus' followers learned of His resurrection. Luke 23 recorded His legal trials, crucifixion, death, and burial. Acts chapter 1, also written by Luke, explains how Jesus' followers prepare for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church. Luke 24's theme is the fulfillment of prophecy from Jesus and the Old Testament prophets. Once Jesus' followers understand, He returns to heaven. Matthew 28 includes how the Sanhedrin bribed the guards. John chapter 20 adds Thomas coming to believe while chapter 21 records Peter's reconciliation with Jesus.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.